The National Fire Safety Council recently awarded The Nicholasville Fire Department a 15-year plaque award for their service to the children and parents of Nicholasville and Jessamine County.

In 2002, the Nicholasville Fire Department initiated a continual fire safety program that offers children educator-approved materials and services provided by the National Fire Safety Council — a not-for-profit organization that is the largest distributor of comprehensive fire and burn prevention and life safety materials in the United States. The materials for the comprehensive program include fire helmets, puppets, costumes, badges, CDs, videos and handouts on fire safety. There are also manuals which contain about 24 activity pages designed to stimulate a child’s awareness and thinking about fire hazards they may encounter. The fire department even received a “Firepup” dog suit last year, which can be seen dancing and interacting with children at various events such as parades and school programs.

“The motto of the National Fire Safety Council is ‘The best way to fight a fire is to prevent it,’” said Jim Griffith, the representative of the National Fire Safety Council and coordinator of the program, in a press release from the Nicholasville Fire Department. “We have discovered that the best way to create a safer environment in our communities is to educate the children and make them aware of fire safety. When they recognize the importance of it, they will make an effort to inform their parents. In this way, the whole community becomes a safer place to live, insurance costs remain low and destructive fires, injuries and deaths are prevented. The National Fire Safety Council is proud of Nicholasville and Jessamine County and its progressive people for promoting fire safety in this way.”

Fire Chief Mark Case pointed out in a press release that though the special fire safety educational program is sponsored by the Nicholasville Fire Department, it is financially supported by local residents and business leaders who understand the need for teaching fire prevention techniques early. These sponsors are recognized and listed on the backs of all the K- 5 manuals.

During the months of April and May, community members will receive letters from The Nicholasville Fire Department asking for donations that will go toward helping them keep the community safe through education as well as responding to fires, hazardous materials incidents, assisting and removing victims from accidents, assisting in times of disasters and providing mutual aid assistance to other departments and organizations in the county.

“It is only through the continued and united efforts of teachers, parents, children and concerned citizens that fires can be prevented”, Battalion Chief David Johns, who is also the fire prevention officer, said in a press release. “We are hoping that many will once again respond to the request of the Nicholasville Fire Department this year and help us to reach the 4,000 children in our community with fire safety materials.”

This year, the fire department is also seeking funding for a new Fire Prevention Safety House to help educate the community on fire safety messages, planning and steps take if a fire does occur.

The current fire safety house was built by members of the fire department around 15 years ago, and it has been used for several events across the county to spread fire safety messages. Therefore, it has endured some wear and tear.

The Bullex Fire Safety Trailer that the department aims to buy boasts quite a few more digital accessories, including a toaster and outlets that produce clouds of smoke, props that simulate an emergency fire that is spreading, a laser-driven trainee fire extinguisher that will cause the fire to shrink and an interactive 911 phone.

The house also produces heat and sound effects such as a smoke alarm, which adds to the realism of the experience.

The house creates fire scenarios in several different locations including the kitchen, bedroom and industrial rooms.

The Nicholasville Fire Department started a GoFundMe page to help pay for the Fire Prevention Safety House, which boasts a price tag of $85,000.

There will be a fundraiser for the new Fire Prevention Safety House at the Moose Lodge located at 501 Virginia Lane in Nicholasville. A $10 ticket for the event will enter community members into a drawing for a grand prize 55-inch Samsung curved 4K UHD Smart LED TV. The second prize will be a 55-inch 4K UHD LED TV. The drawing will be at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, and it will take place in the midst of a free cookout with live music and other drawings and door prizes from 4 to 8 p.m.

There will also be a fish fry to raise funds from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 3 at 1540 Jessamine Station Road. The cost of $15 per person will include fish and fixings. A musical performance will also be given by The Moron Brothers and Gary Pack.

Anyone interested in donating can do so at http://bit.ly/2oRAZuI.